CostIndexUSA

Billings, MT vs Gainesville, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableMT
Billings
93.5
overall index
$1,400/mo rent
FL
Gainesville
96.7
overall index
$1,650/mo rent

Billings is slightly cheaper than Gainesville — 3.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Billings, you would need $82,700 in Gainesville. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+20.2%
Billings
77.4
Gainesville
93
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Billings
96
Gainesville
96.2
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Billings
103.7
Gainesville
103.8
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Billings
93.8
Gainesville
93.9
Utilities+21.8%
Billings
72.4
Gainesville
88.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Billings to see what you'd need to earn in Gainesville to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Gainesville, FL
$82,700
$2,700 more needed in Gainesville

Formula: salary × (96.7 ÷ 93.5) = salary × 1.0342. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Billings, MT

Median Home Price
$392,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
77.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
23.3×

Gainesville, FL

Median Home Price
$294,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
93
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

Gainesville has 20.2% higher housing costs compared to Billings.

Income & Job Market

Billings, MT

Median Household Income
$70,800
Per Capita Income
$40,400
Unemployment Rate
3.2%
Population
117,116
Top Industries
EnergyHealthcareRetailAgricultureManufacturing

Gainesville, FL

Median Household Income
$59,300
Per Capita Income
$33,800
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
140,003
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyGovernmentResearch

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Billings, MT
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Gainesville, FL
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.